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Carbidopa/Levodopa
Pronounced: kar bi DOE pa & lee voe DOE pa
Generic ingredients: Carbidopa, Levodopa
Carbidopa with Levodopa is a controlled-release tablet that may be given to help relieve the muscle stiffness, tremor, and weakness caused by Parkinson's disease. It may also be given to relieve Parkinson-like symptoms caused by encephalitis (brain fever), carbon monoxide poisoning, or manganese poisoning.
The tablet contains two drugs, carbidopa and levodopa. The drug that actually produces the anti-Parkinson's effect is levodopa. Carbidopa prevents vitamin B6 from destroying levodopa, thus allowing levodopa to work more efficiently.
Parkinson's drugs such as Carbidopa with Levodopa relieve the symptoms of the disease, but are not a permanent cure.
Your doctor will tailor your individual dosage carefully, depending on your response to previous therapy and symptoms.
ADULTS
For patients with mild to moderate symptoms, the initial recommended dose is 1 tablet of Carbidopa, Levodopa taken 2 times a day.
Starting doses should be spaced out every 4 to 8 hours and then adjusted to each patient's individual response.
The usual long-term dose is 2 to 8 tablets per day, taken in divided doses every 4 to 8 hours during the waking day.
Higher doses (12 or more tablets per day) and shorter intervals (less than 4 hours) have been used, but are not usually recommended.
When doses of Carbidopa with Levodopa are given at intervals of less than 4 hours, and/or if the divided doses are not equal, it is recommended that the smaller doses be given at the end of the day.
An interval of at least 3 days between dosage adjustments is recommended.
Dosage adjustments of Carbidopa with Levodopa may be necessary if your doctor prescribes additional medications. |
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